Frame construction



Feb. 28, 1967 s. BOHN FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed April 16, 1965 FIG.

INVENTOR.

Samuel Bohn wa u/ ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,305,999 Patented Feb. 28, 1967 3,305,999 FRAME CONSTRUCTION Samuel Bolm, 285 Aycrigg Ave., Passaic, NJ. 07055 Filed Apr. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 448,647 4 Claims. (Cl. 52732) This invention relates generally to a frame structure, and more specifically to door structures and especially to sliding doors for refrigerators and the like.

Heretofore, such door structures had their outer members marred by use of screws which were fastened to the inner member so that the screw heads were visible along the smooth outer member. This type of construction is costly and time consuming since holes must be drilled in the various parts and the screw fasteners are passed through such holes to assemble the framework.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a more simple frame structure which can be easily and rapidly assembled with a minimum of effort and be more efiicient in its structure to retain the cold air within the refrigerator or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved framework at lower cost than heretofore and of more pleasing appearance and which can be firmly secured to hold the glass members in cushioned and effective position.

Another object of this invention is the provision that the two members may be extruded or made to any length desired, and cut to the required size for rapid assembly.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent whi considered in view of the drawings and description in which:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line 11 of the frame shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view partly broken away of a sliding door of a refrigerator with the glass panels removed.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a frame of a door comprising a metal glazing trim 11 which is made preferably of aluminum, a T-shaped trim 12 preferably made of plastic or hard rubber. The T-shaped trim 12 is a unitary piece and comprising a horizontal portion 13 and a vertical portion 14 at right angles to the portion 13. Portion 14 has a groove 15 extending through its medial longitudinal length and its upper end 16 is bevelled or curved inwardly. Portion 13 has a series of horizontal holes 23 bored in its central part for receiving the shanks of plugs 17 and the fastener screw 18, the head 19 of which is seated within groove 15 when in position.

The metal trim 11 has a T-slot or channel 20 extending through its central portion. The T-shaped trim 12 and trim 11 are assembled by plugs 17. Each of such plugs 17 comprises a shank 21 having an enlarged or flanged head end 22 which is adapted to be received in the channel 20 with the shank portion 21 projecting away from the head end 22 through the hole 23 of the portion 13.

Each of the plugs 17 is provided with a tapped or threaded bore 24 for receiving a screw fastener or the like. Thus, the portions 11 and 13 may be secured together by tightening the screws 18 which draws the head end 22 of plugs 17 tight against the shoulders 26 of the portion 11. However, before the portions 11 and 13 are assembled tightly, the spacer member 27, in the form of a square tube, the opposed glass sheets 28, and the sealer strips or glazing tape 30, 31 are placed in position between the metal glazing trim and T-shaped trim and thereafter, the screws 18 are tightened with the plugs 17.

If desired, glue or Welding could also be used with the sealer strips or glazing tape; however, it is believed such use is not necessary:

In the assembly, corner pieces 32 may be used within the groove 15, as shown in FIG. 2.

While the instant invention has been disclosed with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it is to be appreciated that the invention is not to be taken as limited to all of the details thereof as modifications and variations thereof may be made without departing from the general spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A frame construction for holding glass sheets, said frame construction comprising an elongated glazing trim having a glass engaging face and an elongated T-shaped trim having a glass engaging face;

said T-shaped trim comprising a unitary horizontal portion terminating in a vertical end face and a vertical portion extending at right angles to said horizontal portion;

said horizontal portion having a series of horizontally bored holes extending completely therethrough;

said glazing trim being provided with an internal elongated slot formed therein inwardly of said glass engaging face;

a plurality of connecting means securing said glazing trim and T-shaped trim so that said vertical end face of said horizontal portion is in tight abutment against said glazing trim;

each of said connecting means comprising an elongated shank having a flanged head portion;

said flanged head portion being received in said elongated slot so that the shank extends through one of said holes in said horizontal portion;

and a fastener received in said shank and firmly securing said glazing trim to said T-shaped trim for holding a pair of glass sheets together with a spacer mem ber therebetween.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said vertical portion is provided with an elongated groove substantially along its medial longitudinal length, said fastener comprising a headed screw wherein said screw head may be received within the elongated groove of the vertical portion to conceal the same.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said internal elongated slot is coextensive with the length of said glazing trim. v

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said internal elongated slot opens to an end edge of said glazing trim.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 819,854 5/1906 Comstock 52-732 1,793,503 2/1931 Michaels 5250l X 2,956,314 10/1960 Rowe et al. 52730 X 3,177,989 4/1965 Di Chiaro 49-425 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner.

KENNETH DOWNEY, Examiner. 

1. A FRAME CONSTRUCTION FOR HOLDING GLASS SHEETS, SAID FRAME CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING AN ELONGATED GLAZING TRIM HAVING A GLASS ENGAGING FACE AND AN ELONGATED T-SHAPED TRIM HAVING A GLASS ENGAGING FACE; SAID T-SHAPED TRIM COMPRISING A UNITARY HORIZONTAL PORTION TERMINATING IN A VERTICAL END FACE AND A VERTICAL PORTION EXTENDING AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID HORIZONTAL PORTION; SAID HORIZONTAL PORTION HAVING A SERIES OF HORIZONTALLY BORED HOLES EXTENDING COMPLETELY THERETHROUGH; SAID GLAZING TRIM BEING PROVIDED WITH AN INTERNAL ELONGATED SLOT FORMED THEREIN INWARDLY OF SAID GLASS ENGAGING FACE; A PLURALITY OF CONNECTING MEANS SECURING SAID GLAZING TRIM AND T-SHAPED TRIM SO THAT SAID VERTICAL END FACE OF SAID HORIZONTAL PORTION IS IN TIGHT ABUTMENT AGAINST SAID GLAZING TRIM; EACH OF SAID CONNECTING MEANS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SHANK HAVING A FLANGED HEAD PORTION; SAID FLANGED HEAD PORTION BEING RECEIVED IN SAID ELONGATED SLOT SO THAT THE SHANK EXTENDS THROUGH ONE OF SAID HOLES IN SAID HORIZONTAL PORTION; AND A FASTENER RECEIVED IN SAID SHANK AND FIRMLY SECURING SAID GLAZING TRIM TO SAID T-SHAPED TRIM FOR HOLDING A PAIR OF GLASS SHEETS TOGETHER WITH A SPACER MEMBER THEREBETWEEN. 